Finland has ordered a suspension of preparatory work on two planned artificial intelligence data centres linked to Google, after roughly 530 hectares of forest, about 1,300 acres, were cleared before mandatory environmental impact assessments were completed.
The Finnish Regulatory Control Authority (LVV) instructed Tuike Finland Oy, a company tied to the projects, to stop activities in the municipalities of Muhos and Kajaani, in the Otanmäki area. The order, issued on 6 October, required work to be halted until 23 October. Police have opened a preliminary investigation into possible environmental violations.
Residents report wildlife displacement and concern over noise, sediment runoff into streams and loss of habitat. Google's Finland director, Antti Järvinen, apologised and said the company will comply with the LVV's decisions. Official figures for the number of trees felled have not yet been confirmed.
